AMMAN (JT) — HRH Princess Basma on Tuesday commended the achievements of women's organisations in the Kingdom and the spirit of cooperation and partnership between governmental and nongovernmental agencies working to realise the goals of the women's movement.

She also recognised the important contributions and the part played by Arab NGOs as active and vibrant actors in civil society, and in particular the role of local NGOs and women's movements in promoting women's participation in the country's development process.

Paying tribute to the work of the Jordanian Women's Union, the General Federation of Jordanian Women and the Jordanian National Forum for Women, Princess Basma said: “The strong partnership formed between the Jordanian National Commission for Women and the women's movement was a valuable asset in addressing the needs of the Jordanian women's sector as a whole.”

Her remarks were made at a ceremony organised by the UN family in Jordan to mark International Women's Day, under the theme, “Celebrating Women 10 years after Beijing.”

The event coincides this year with worldwide preparations to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the Fourth World Conference of Women in Beijing, the largest conference in the history of the United Nations, which sought to mobilise the global women's movement into strategic alliances and collective power.

Commending Jordan's commitment to gender equity, the Princess referred to His Majesty King Abdullah's efforts in bringing about new achievements for women. In particular, she made reference to the “recent appointments to mid-level management positions in the public sector, which reflect the vision of His Majesty, which calls for total support for Jordanian women's advancement.”

Remarking on the heightened focus at different levels on the need for reform, the Princess noted that “both nationally and internationally we are all experiencing an exciting as well as challenging period of reform. Here in Jordan, His Majesty King Abdullah is pushing for important changes creating new opportunities for women. At the same time, the comprehensive reforms within the UN called for by UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, should also create a favourable impact for women's empowerment worldwide.”

Underlining the increasing role of NGOs in the development process, the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the Centre for Arab Women Training and Research in Tunisia joined forces in the production of the Arab regional report entitled:”10 Years after Beijing: The Role and Contribution of the Arab NGOs.” UNIFEM officials made a presentation on the report at Tuesday's ceremony.

In her address at the gathering, UN Resident Coordinator in Jordan Christine McNab outlined the picture of women's situation in the past few years in the Arab world, noting that Arab states have endorsed new perspectives in developmental planning for women. Meanwhile, she said, Arab policy makers have formulated and adopted development strategies that invite civil society to join governments in assuming the responsibility for development initiatives.

She acknowledged the partnership that is developing between government and civil society, working towards achieving a common agenda for improving the status of women.

Celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Beijing conference, the United Nations General Assembly held its 49th session between Feb. 29 - March 11 this year to review the progress achieved in implementing the Beijing Platform for Action as reflected from the national reports submitted by various governments and NGOs.

The Jordan National Commission on Women gave a brief on the Commission on the Status of Women's 49th Session, which was held in New York in February and attended by Princess Basma. The presentation reviewed the major global challenges and achievements in implementing the Beijing Platform for Action, followed by strategic priorities for future work outlined in Annan's speech.

Her Royal Highness Princess Basma Bint Talal Abdallah Bin Al-Hussein is the only sister of His Majesty, the late King Hussein Bin Talal.
Princess Basma is married to Walid Al-Kurdi and has four children: Farah, Ghazi, Saad and Zein.
<LI>Princess Basma received her primary education in Amman at the Ahliyah School, then joined Benenden School in Britain, after which she went to Oxford University, where she specialized in languages.

In 1977, His Majesty, the late King Hussein entrusted Her Royal Highness Princess Basma with the founding of the Queen Alia Jordan Social Welfare Fund (QAF), and the Chairmanship of its Board of Trustees. QAF acts as a pioneering national non-governmental institution which aims to promote the concept of social development and to mobilize efforts of the private sector for teh effective participation in the development of local communities. Within this endeavour, Princess Basma is particularly interested in providing services to women and children, especially in rural and needy urban areas. Health programs directed to mothers and children are a major component of QAF's objectives. Training programs are provided for women in order to enhance their capabilities to contribute to the social and economic well-being of the family, and to ensure their involvement in the development process. Pre-school education is provided through kindergartens, which focus on the character building of children and on the development of their talents and capabilities. Similarly, school age children are able to benefit from the children's clubs activities.

In 1974, the Jordanian Save the Children Fund (JSCF) was established with Her Royal Highness Princess Basma as President. JSCF cares for children and provides them with essential services through its centers which offer health, cultural and educational programmes. In addition to children, these centres address the needs of women and mothers in particular, in rural and needy urban areas.

In 1992, the National Committee for Women's Affairs was established by Government Decree of which Her Royal Highness is Chairperson. Its membership is made up of senior government officials, representatives or government departments and voluntary organizations concerned in women's issues. Its aim is to establish a National Strategy and Action Plan on issues concerning women, to unify efforts of government and private organizations and to review legislation concerning women, in order to strengthen women's role in the development process.

Her Royal Highness established and oversees the National Population Committee (NPC), which is hosted by QAF. Its aims is to develop a National Population Strategy and observe demographic changes in Jordan.

Her Royal Highness is Chairperson of the Arab Association for Women and Development (AWAD), which was established in 1989. AWAD is a pan-Arab non-governmental association, whose membership includes both men and women with the aim of strengthening and enhancing the role of Arab women in the development and prosperity of their societies. It also aims to strengthen dialogue with decision makers in order to indetify priorities and needs of Arab women, and establish policies and strategies based on reearch and planning.

Her Royal Highness is also President of the Jordanian Association for Boy Scouts and Girl Guides, the national organization for promoting the aims and objectives of the Scout Movement.

Her Royal Highness is a member of the following international institutions: Olave Baden-Powell Society, UNIFEM Selection Committee for teh Noel Irwin - Hentschel's Foundation Women's Awards, WHO Scientific and Technical Advisory Group of the Adolescent Health Programme, and Arab Consultative Council for the International Planned Parenthood Federation in the Arab Region.

Princess Basma’s commitment to furthering the aims of the Jordanian National Population Commission (NPC) includes her continued support for the development and implementation of the National Population Programme, including Jordan’s first National Population Strategy. Participating in the international domain, Princess Basma became a member of the Board of Trustees of the United States-based Population Council in 1996.

Since 1977, Princess Basma has served as Chairperson of the Jordanian Hashemite Fund for Human Development (JOHUD), a national non-governmental organization (NGO), which promotes sustainable development interventions within local communities through an extensive network of community development centres.

In 1992, Princess Basma initiated the formation of the Jordanian National Commission for Women (JNCW). As the primary policy-making forum in Jordan for women’s issues and rights, the JNCW comprises senior government officials, representatives of public and private sector institutions, the women’s movements, as well as NGOs. While reviewing legislation, the JNCW has initiated amendments to a number of discriminatory laws regarding women. The JNCW aims to raise the profile of women both in national and local decision-making bodies. As Chairperson, Princess Basma worked with the JNCW to develop the first National Strategy for Women in 1993. She headed the official Jordanian delegation to the Fourth World Conference on Women (Beijing, 1995).

Princess Basma, who holds a Doctorate in development studies from Oxford University, is married to Walid al Kurdi and has two daughters and two sons.

AMMAN (JT) — Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Muzzadin Waddaulah Sultan dan Yang Di-Pertuan, Negra Brunei Darussalam on Saturday presented Her Royal Highness Princess Basma with the Most Esteemed Family Order Laila Utama Medal in tribute to her efforts towards human development and the advancement of women on the national, regional and international levels.

The medal, the most prestigious in the sultanate, was presented to Princess Basma at a special ceremony held in her honour and attended by 1,000 government officials and representatives of the diplomatic corps in the Sultanate of Brunei.

It also pays tribute to the solid relations that bind the two countries, established during the reign of His Majesty the late King Hussein and continue to grow stronger under the leadership of His Majesty King Abdullah.

Princess Basma Bint Talal of Jordan has worked to promote global issues for nearly 30 years, most notably helping to foster gender equity, development and children’s well-being. An honorary UNDP Human Development Ambassador since May 1993, she has launched a number of national, regional and international initiatives on health, education, population, the environment and the advancement of women. She is committed to strengthening the capacity of local communities and groups and advocating socio-economic development methods that increase community participation.

A judging panel member at the 2002 UNDP Awards for Human Development ceremony, Princess Basma helped choose six National Human Development Reports along with then President Fernando Henrique Cardoso of Brazil as winners. "At both the international and national levels, the reports have proved to be an indispensable tool in fostering a more people-centred development process," she explained.

At the launch of the 2003 Human Development Report, she emphasized another reason why such reporting served a vital purpose. “The analysis which the Report provides of the world’s progress in meeting the Millennium Development Goals is in itself a masterly achievement, and as an action plan the Millennium Development Compact introduces a valuable tool for helping to reach a wide range of objectives,” she said.

Princess Basma took a leading role in establishing the Jordanian Hashemite Fund for Human Development, the Queen Zein Al Sharaf Institute for Development, and the Jordanian National Commission for Women. She was a member of the International Advisory Group to the UN Secretary-General in preparation for the 1995 Conference on Women. She is a UN Population Fund Goodwill Ambassador, and a member of the UNESCO International Advisory Board of the International Council on Social Welfare and the UNESCO International Panel on Democracy and Development.

The Jordanian National Commission for Women (JNCW) on Thursday received a contribution of computer and electronic equipment from the All-China Women's Federation.

The timing of the gift, a reflection of the long-standing friendship and cooperation between the women's sectors in the two countries, coincides with the tenth anniversary commemoration of the Beijing Fourth World Conference on Women.

At the presentation ceremony yesterday, Princess Basma expressed appreciation for the gift on behalf of JNCW received from the All-China Women's Federation.

The Princess noted that the gesture consolidates and strengthens the friendly relations and ties between the women of Jordan and China.

"The generous donation to the Jordanian National Commission for Women fosters cooperation between national mechanisms, as called for in the Beijing Fourth World Conference on Women, and will assist in the commission's work on women related issues."

At the end of the ceremony, Chinese Ambassador Luo Xingwu, conveyed on behalf of the All-China Women's Federation an invitation to Princess Basma to attend the upcoming "Beijing 2005: The Tenth Anniversary Commemoration of the Fourth World Conference on Women."

Princess Basma said she hoped this event would renew the commitment to the Beijing Platform for Action.

"I am sure that this important conference will reinforce the necessary measures for addressing the challenges women face in the world today. We look forward to the opportunity to renew our commitment to the Beijing Platform for Action and all it embodies for the process of women's advancement."

Representatives from the Chinese embassy and JNCW also attended yesterday's event.